Pilot Study

Key Thematic Areas

Psychosocial

Depression, Loneliness, Life-satisfaction, Ill treatment

Health

Cognition, Sensory measures, Biomarkers, Physiological measures

Economic

Income, Retirement, Cash transfers

Environment

Air pollution monitoring, Climate vulnerability, Food and water security

Caregiving

Positive impact and burden of caregiving

Study Population and Sampling Strategy

The LOSHAK sampling frame included Kenyan adults aged 45 years and older. The Aga Khan University (AKU) team built expertise in survey design and sampling through the ongoing Kaloleni/Rabai Community Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KRHDSS) that surveys 92,000 individuals (18,000 households) every 6 months, including 14,389 individuals aged ≥45 years (the LOSHAK sampling frame) in 113 towns and villages. The KRHDSS platform was used to test feasibility of key LOSHAK measures and data collection protocols.

All recruitment, consenting, and assessments were conducted by trained interviewers. Examiners undergo specialized training and are certified in the collection of each measure before entering the field.

Feasibility study instrument

The LOSHAK feasibility study consists of the following sections:

1. Self-reported cognitive abilities - Participants rate their memory, mental abilities such as thinking and solving problems (past and present)
2. Cognition - Swahili Mental State Examination, 10-Word Recall, Animal Naming, Logical Memory, Clock Drawing, HRS Number Series, 10-Word List Recall (delayed), Making Change
3. Psychosocial, Mental health, and Behavioral - CES-D, Loneliness, Subjective Well-being, Ill Treatment, Life Statisfaction, MacArthur Ladder, 4-item Perceived Stress Scale, Financial Strain
4. Other Self-Reported Health Measures and Risk Factors - General health and Disabilities
5. Environment - Air Pollution, Climate Vulnerability, Food and Water Insecurity
6. Economics - Household Income, Retirement, Cash Transfers, Household assets
7. Caregiving Exposure - Positive and Negative experiences of caregiving
8. Physiological Measures - Blood Pressure, Grip/Hand Strength, Height, Weight, Waist and Hip Circumference
9. Biomarkers - Dried Blood Sample Collection, Gauging acceptability of future genomic sequencing

This project received funding from:

National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging (R21AG077042)

University of Michigan Center for Global Health Equity

Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol Network (U24AG065182)

HRS Partner Studies Network (MiCDA, P30AG012846)

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